Part of a major eco-tourism project to showcase Sharjah’s archaeological and natural riches, the building centres around the Bronze Age Umm al-Nar Tomb. An urban park was upgraded to re-establish the tomb’s desert setting. Materials blend with the landscape. The building’s form, generated from the circular tomb and creating a ceremonial approach to it, comprises concentric sandstone walls. A gentle ramp leads to a rooftop viewing terrace. Internally, the fluid layout and curved walls guide visitors through the lobby and exhibition hall and on to the glass-fronted café with its views of the Fossil Rock formation and desert beyond. Contrasting with the flowing stone, a copper roof jaggedly cascades down over the café, mirroring the Fossil Rock formation’s sharp edges.
Source: Aga Khan Trust for Culture
